Fire screen



A. GROM ES March 28, 1939.

FIRE SCREEN Filed Aug. 5, 1938 6600 4 :44. 2... .2. O Q Q 0 .2... .2 2..

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INVENTOR 4001 620M155 ATTORN Patented Mar. 28, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Claims.

My invention relates to fire screens, and more particularly, to fire screens having a flexible, sliding, collapsible panel of wire mesh.

The mesh screens of this type in use at present 5 function imperfectly at three places; one, the edge at the intersection of the two panel halves;

two, the upper part of the panel above the mesh and below the framework of the screen in the neighborhood of the cross bar carrying the rings from which the mesh is hung; and three, between the lower edge of the mesh and the floor.

In the fire screen that I have now invented, the above weaknesses have been eliminated; as, one the two panel halves overlap each other at the i5 center; two, the mesh extends above the lower edge of the upper framework of the screen; and three, the lower edge of the mesh although not reaching to the floor extends below the upper edge of the lower cross bar of the frame of the screen. Thus, my fire screen is capable of preventing the passage of all sparks and embers within the area of its entire framework.

I accomplish these objects by hanging my mesh in the form of two half panels from two separate cross bars nonaligned and extending from each side edge of the frame to a point beyond each other at the center of the panel, and by providing the screen framework with a downward extending element overhanging the cross bar and the upper end of the mesh and a second cross element at the foot of the screen extending upward of the lower edge of the mesh.

Further and more specific details and objects of my invention will be shown and described in the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure 1 is a front view of my fire screen.

Figure 2 is a rear view.

Figure 3 is a top plan partly broken away to show the position of the cross bars.

Figure 4 is a longitudinal, sectional View of the top of the screen with the front covering removed.

Figures 5 and 6 are top plan views of modifications.

Figure 7 is an enlarged broken sectional view showing details of construction in relation to the securing of the cross bars.

In the drawing, my fire screen I is constructed with the sides 2, cross top 3 and cross bottom 4 framing elements joined together at their end to form a rectangular panel opening. The side framing elements 2 are each L shaped and are positioned so that one of the sides of the L forms a border about the panel, and the other side 6 acts as the side of the screen. The cross top element 3 is of an inverted U shape, with the. fiat part I broad enough to contain the cross bars and the panel mesh 9, while one of the legs IU of the U acts as a cross top border. The cross bottom element which extends from side to side strengthening the frame acts as a bottom border for the 5 screen.

The legs H and resting bars l2 extend forward from the sides 2 and rearward from the cross bottom element 4 respectively and carry the screen and prevent it from toppling over. 10

The cross bars 8 are screwed, bolted or aflixed in any desired manner to the sides near the top, or to the top near the sides, and extend beyond the center of the framework, and are secured in any desired manner to either of the sides of the 16 U, or are bent upward as at l3 and afllxed to the flat part I of the U. The cross bars 8 are shown in Fig. 3 in parallel position both at an angle to the framework, but with one forward of the other, while the bars l4 shown in Fig. 5 are parallel to go each other and to the framework, and with one before the other, and in Fig. 6, the bars l5 are shown in an aligned position in the center of the U but with the center end portion iii of each slightly ofiset, one forward and the other, back- 35 ward. In all these variations, the bars extend beyond the center of the framework, and so permit the mesh panels hanging from them to overlap and cause a perfect closure.

The mesh panels 9 are hung by rings I! extendan ing over the cross bars and through the openings in the mesh. As the mesh is foldable and the rings merely rest on the cross bars, the panels can be operated to remain open, partially closed, or closed, as desired.

In order to obtain a perfect closure within the area of the framework, the mesh panels are secured to the side element behind the side border by the catches l8 and the bars l9 and screws 20. To insure the same closure at the cross bar 8 and 40 the rings H, the side in forming the cross top border is broad and extends below the upper edge of the mesh, and for the same purpose, the cross bottom element extends above the lower edge of the mesh. Likewise, each mesh panel is broad 4,5 enough so that when distended, it extends from in back of the side element to beyond the center of the framework. Thus a perfect closure is obtained as all the edges of the two panel meshes are covered either by the framework or by the 50 other mesh.

In order to operate the panels, the L shaped plates 2i are attached to the mesh by the screws 22 extending therethrough and secured into the stiffening plates 23 in the rear. To cause the u mesh to hang and be operated evenly, and prevent possible scratching, the rod 24 is positioned in the opening in the last mesh strand occupying the room normally used by the next strand. stifl- 'ening the mesh and giving a finished appearance to the panel.

As the details described in the drawing show only one form of my invention and since many changes and modifications may be made in the same invention without changing or departing from the spirit and scope of the idea, I desire to cover all modifications, forms, and embodiments coming within the language or scope of any one or more of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A fire screen comprising a framework having cross-top, bottom and side elements, two nonaligned bars extending one from the vicinity of each side element to beyond the center of the screen, and two panels, one slidably hung on each of the bars, and said panels together being enough wider than the framework opening that an overlap occurs at the center, and each panel extending partially above the cross-top element and partially below the cross-bottom element.

2. A fire screen comprising a framework having cross-top and side elements, two non-aligned bars extending one from the vicinity of each side element to beyond the center of the screen, and two panels, one slidably hung on each of the bars, and said panels together being enough wider than the framework opening that an overlap occurs at the center, and each panel extending partially above the cross-top element.

3; A fire screen comprising a framework having.cross-top and side elements, two bars, the one oilset from the other and each extending from the vicinity of opposite sides to beyond the center of the screen, and two panels, one slidably hung on each of the bars, and said panels together being enough wider than the framework opening that an overlap occurs at the center, and each panel extending partially above the cross-top element.

4. A flre screen comprising a framework having cross-top and side elements, two bars extending one from the vicinity of each side element to beyond the center of the screen, one of said bars having an offset portion near its center end, and two panels, one slidably hung on each of'the bars, the two panel widths together and the oifset bar portion permitting the panels to overlap when closed.

5. A fire screen comprising a framework having cross-top and side elements, two bars extending one from the vicinity of each side element to beyond the center of the screen, one of said bars having an ofiset portion near its center end, and two panels one slidably hung on each of the bars, the two panel widths together and the oflset bar portion permitting the panels to overlap when ,closed, and each panel extending partially above the cross-top element.

, ADOLPH GROMES. 

